Arrow Shooting Method and System

ABSTRACT

A system for shooting arrows at targets, comprising at least one device for shooting arrows, at least one target and at least one arrow, characterised by the fact that it comprises a reflection wall and that the arrow comprises a head portion, the reflection wall and the head portion being configured so as to return the arrow in the direction of the shooting device when the head portion impacts the reflection wall instead of the target.

The present invention concerns a system and method for shooting arrows at a target. It finds its application in the area of archery.

Conventional archery requires a large field equipped where necessary with systems for protecting against dangers from the arrows. The shooting distances give rise to a not insignificant time for picking up arrows which, moreover, present a certain danger for the archers and spectators. In addition, the targets (that is to say fixed targets) are rapidly damaged by impact from the arrows.

The present invention completely or partly remedies the drawbacks of the practice of traditional archery. In particular it proposes a novel technique for limiting the travel of the arrows to shorten the distances that the archer must travel to pick up the arrows.

Another advantage of the invention, in a preferred embodiment, is to greatly eliminate the risks of accidents by virtue of arrows having a protective end piece.

Other aims and advantages will emerge during the following description of an embodiment of the invention. First, it is indicated that the invention concerns a system for shooting arrows at targets, comprising at least one arrow-shooting device, at least one target and at least one arrow, characterised by the fact that it comprises a reflection wall and that the arrow comprises a head portion, the reflection wall and the head portion being configured so as to at least partially absorb the energy of the impact and to restore it in order to send the arrow in the direction of the shooting device when the head portion impacts the reflection wall instead of the target.

In advantageous but optional embodiments, which may be concurrent or used alternatively, the system is such that:

-   -   the target is configured to damp an impact of the head portion         more than the reflection wall;     -   the reflection wall is a substantially vertical wall;     -   the head portion comprises an elastically deformable end piece         and means of connection to an arrow shaft;     -   the end piece is made from a flexible plastics material;     -   the end piece is made from polymer foam;     -   it comprises a machine for launching the at least one target,         said machine being configured to launch the target in front of         the reflection wall relative to the shooting device;     -   the machine is configured to launch the at least one target in a         vertical plane;     -   the vertical plane is closer to the reflection wall that the         shooting device;     -   the reflection wall and the vertical plane are parallel and         spaced apart by a distance of between 1 metre and 3 metres, in         which the shooting device and the vertical plane are spaced         apart by a distance of between 7 metres and 11 metres;     -   the reflection wall has a height of between 7 metres and 12         metres;     -   it is configured so that the arrow is returned at a distance of         between 50% and 85% of the distance between the reflection wall         and the shooting device when it impacts the reflection wall;     -   the external shape of the at least one target is a portion of a         cylinder.

The invention also concerns a method for shooting arrows at a target for an archer comprising a step of shooting an arrow in the direction of the target, characterised by the fact that it comprises the following steps:

-   -   placing a reflection wall in a shooting area around the target;     -   forming a head portion on the arrow;     -   when the arrow does not impact the target, returning the arrow         towards the archer by bouncing of the head portion on the         reflection wall.

According to preferred embodiments, this method is such that:

-   -   the arrow is returned at a distance of between 50% and 85% of         the distance between the reflection wall and the archer;     -   the target is launched prior to the shooting step so as to make         it move in front of the reflection wall relative to the archer         during the shooting step;     -   the target is launched at a height greater than 2 metres and         less than the height of the reflection wall.

The invention will be better understood in the light of the appended sets of drawings, presenting a preferred embodiment of the invention, and which is comprise:

FIG. 1 illustrating a phase of shooting in the direction of the target, in side view.

FIG. 2, which presents an arrow rebounding on a reflection surface, in the direction of an archer.

FIG. 3, which shows an arrow in its return position towards the archer.

FIG. 4, which shows diagrammatically an arrow impacting a target.

FIG. 5, which illustrates the falling of an arrow after having touched the target.

FIG. 6 showing in perspective an example of arrows that can be used.

FIG. 7, which presents an example of launch machines.

As depicted in FIG. 1, the system according to the invention enables an archer 1 using a device 2 for shooting arrows 3 to perform a step of shooting at a target identified by the reference 5. The shooting device 2 may be a bow of conventional design or any other weapon enabling arrows or darts to be projected. Crossbows are for example also concerned. The term “archer” means here any user of such a shooting device 2.

An example of an arrow 3 that can be used is shown in FIG. 6 in more detail with a shaft 10 of variable size and a head portion 4 provided with an end piece here in non-limitative spherical form making it possible to form an assembly that is of low hazard in the event of any accident. Preferably, the head portion 4 has a portion at least partially exposed at the tip of the arrow 3 made from elastically deformable material. For example, a plastics material of the polymer foam type may be suitable. It will easily be understood that the head portion thus produced absorbs part of the energy caused by the impact of the arrow 3 on an obstacle. This energy may be at least partially restored because of the elastic deformability of the material used for the head portion 4. The head portion 4 may be connected to the shaft 10 by any connection means and in particular by force fitting or by a threaded connection. At the other end of the shaft 10, referred to as the distal end 11, feathers are present as well as a system for positioning on the string of the shooting device 2. This assembly 11 may be of conventional design.

It should be noted that it be advantageous for at least one portion of the arrow 3 to have a predetermined colour. This may for example be the head portion 4. Thus, when a plurality of arrows 3 are used, it is possible to identify them or to identify the sets of arrows 3 in particular to dedicate a colour to an archer 1. It is consequently easier to count the number of hits achieved by the user.

Returning to FIG. 1, another aspect of the invention has been shown, namely a reflection wall 6. In the example, it is a wall provided with a rigid external surface, for example made from concrete, and advantageously oriented along a vertical plane. For example, the reflection wall 6 may have a useful surface, facing the archer 1, with a substantially rectangular shape with a width of several metres and a height for example of between 7 and 12 metres. These values are however not limitative since the reflection wall 6 may be adapted according to the space available, in particular in a hall.

According to a first possibility, the target 5 is fixed relative to the reflection wall 6 and is for example simply fixed to the surface of the wall 6. According to another possibility, which is preferred, the target 5 is able to move in front of the reflection wall 6, as can be seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4. It will be understood that, in this embodiment, the target 5 moves between the reflection wall 6 and the shooting device 2 carried by the archer 1.

The type of target 5 is not limited by the invention. However, advantageously, at least one target 5 will be used in the form of a cylinder portion that may for example have a diameter varying from 15 to 40 centimetres and advantageously between 25 and 33 centimetres with a thickness of between 3 and 10 centimetres. The target 5, thus forming a kind of disc, is preferably produced from a polymer material in one or more layers. For example, a polymer foam with a density of between 25 and 160 kg/m³ is satisfactory. Advantageously, the faces of the disc are substantially flat, which does not exclude some reliefs in particular for improving the visibility of the target when it is moving, in order to improve its stability, or the like. Advantageously, the target 5 is projected so as to effect a movement upwards and then downwards in a vertical or substantially vertical plane. Optionally, a slight inclination may be produced in particular when it is wished to modify the projection effect and to vary the difficulty of shooting. Advantageously, the faces of the target 5 are substantially parallel to the reflection wall 6 during the movement.

Always, preferably, the target 5 is launched opposite the archer 1 at a distance of between approximately 7 and 11 metres, represented by the dimension L3 in FIG. 1. Overall, the spacing between the archer 1 and the reflection wall 6 represented by L1 may be substantially equivalent to around 10 metres. The length L2 representing the spacing between the area of launching at the target 5 and reflection wall 6 is for example between 1 and 3 metres.

Taking the example of FIG. 1, the overall height of the reflection wall 6 is marked H1. The target 5 is for its part projected so as to have a maximum height H2 less than the height H1. For example, a margin of 2 to 3 metres between H1 and H2 may be preserved.

An example of a method used for launching it from the target 5 is given below. The example given below may be reproduced for a plurality of targets 5.

More particularly, FIG. 1 shows a launch machine 7 comprising a base in the form of a carriage surmounted by a launch area provided with a launch arm 9 itself surmounted by a barrel 8 for storing targets 5 one above the other. A launch machine 7 is more clearly visible in FIG. 7, where the machine is partially shown in side view. Here, the barrel 8 comprises at least one column for stacking targets 5 whereas several columns are shown in the variant in FIG. 1. In the lower part of the figure, a curved surface receives a target 5 in a substantially vertical position with a view to projection by means of an arm 9 shown for example rotatively on a substantially horizontal axis. Between the barrel 8 and the projection area, the machine is equipped with a transfer system for delivering a target 5 to the arm 9. Any machine design may be used according to the invention. The launch may also be manual.

The reflection wall 6 is advantageously made from rigid material so as to produce a bounce that is effective as possible of the arrow 3 equipped with the elastically deformable head portion 4. However, another solution consists of the surface of impact of the arrow 3 on the reflection wall 6 also being elastically deformable or elastically deformable in replacement for the elastic deformability of the head portion 4. The general principle remains that the arrow 3 undergoes a bounce after an impact on the reflection wall 6. Thus any configuration for at least partially absorbing the energy of the impact and restoring it in order to reflect the arrow 3 in the opposite direction to the shooting is suitable.

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 5, an example of implementation of the method of the invention and use of its system is given below. As indicated previously, in FIG. 1, a target 5 has been projected by the machine 7 and the archer 1 has performed a step of shooting an arrow 3 by means of the device 2. It is preferably arranged so that the target reaches a height level greater than the shooting height of the arrow 3. As the illustration shows by means of the arrow in solid lines, the arrow 3 is certainly oriented in the direction of the target 5 but does not manage to touch it, the archer having fired too low. Consequently the arrow 3 is directed towards the reflection wall 6.

In FIG. 2, the arrow 3 has already impacted the reflection wall 6 and undergone a bounce. In this way, it is now oriented so as to be returned in the direction of the archer 1. The head portion 4 is thus directed in the direction of the archer 1. FIG. 3 shows the end of the trajectory of the arrow 3.

At this level, the arrow 3 re-descends substantially in front of the archer 1 at a distance that can be adjusted according to the shooting conditions and the elastic deformation properties enabling the bounce.

For example, the system may be configured so that the arrow is returned at distance of between 50% and 85% of the distance between the reflection wall 6 and the shooting device 2. To achieve this, it is possible to dispose a rigid reflection wall 6 (its surface is hard) at a distance of 10 metres from the archer 1 and the launch machine 7 so that it projects the targets 5 at a distance of 1.5 metres in front of the reflection wall 6. With a bow the power of which is intentionally limited to 26 pounds and an arrow 3 comprising a spherical head portion 4 that is 65 millimetres in diameter made from elastic polymer foam, it is possible to achieve an initial speed of the arrow 3 of around 30 to 40 metres per second. This speed decreases greatly because of the relatively high weight of the assembly formed (for example between 30 and 40 grams and preferentially 35 grams) including a majority placed at the head portion (for example between 20 and 25 grams). It should be noted that the spherical portion of the head portion 4 is also not very aerodynamic, which promotes deceleration. With these parameters and the reflection wall 6 consisting of a conventional rigid wall, it was found surprisingly that the arrow could be made to bounce so that it lands approximately 2 to 3 metres in front of the archer in the event of the target 5 having been missed. This distance may easily be adapted by acting on the properties of elasticity during bounce and the shooting speed.

In the case of FIG. 4, the archer 1 has managed to touch the target 5. At the moment of impact, the target 5, absorbing the impact more than the reflection wall 6, the arrow 3 is greatly braked and re-descends quickly. This is what is shown in FIG. 5 with a fall of the arrow 3 substantially behind the launch machine 7 close to the reflection wall 6. The fact that the targets 5 are projected further increases the phenomenon of damping of the movement of the arrow 3.

Finally, FIG. 5 shows that it is easy to distinguish the arrows 3 that have been the subject of a successful shooting and the arrows 3 resulting from failure. The successful shootings are in fact revealed by arrows close to the reflection wall 6 whereas missed shootings are revealed by arrows that have bounced and been returned close to the archer 1.

REFERENCES

1. Archer

2. Shooting device

3. Arrow

4. Head portion

5. Target

6. Reflection wall

7. Launch machine

8. Barrel

9. Launch arm

10. Shaft

11. Distal end 

1. A system for shooting arrows at targets, comprising at least one arrow-shooting device, at least one target and at least one arrow, wherein it comprises a reflection wall and that the arrow comprises a head portion, the reflection wall and the head portion being configured so as to at least partially absorb the energy of the impact and to restore it in order to send the arrow in the direction of the shooting device when the head portion impacts the reflection wall instead of the target.
 2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the target is configured to damp an impact of the head portion more than the reflection wall.
 3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the reflection wall is a substantially vertical wall.
 4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the head portion comprises an elastically deformable end piece and means for connecting a shaft to an arrow.
 5. A system according to claim 4, wherein the end piece is made from a flexible plastic material.
 6. A system according to claim 5, wherein the end piece is made from polymer foam.
 7. A system according to claim 1, wherein it comprises a machine for launching the at least one target, said machine being configured to launch the target in front of the reflection wall relative to the shooting device.
 8. A system according to claim 7, wherein the machine is configured to launch the at least one target in a vertical plane.
 9. A system according to claim 8, wherein the vertical plane is closer to the reflection wall that the shooting device.
 10. A system according to claim 9, wherein the reflection wall and the vertical plane are parallel and spaced apart by a distance of between 1 metre and 3 metres and wherein the shooting device and the vertical plane are spaced apart by a distance of between 7 metres and 11 metres.
 11. A system according to claim 10, wherein the reflection wall has a height of between 7 metres and 12 metres.
 12. A system according to claim 1, wherein it is configured so that the arrow is returned at a distance of between 50% and 85% of the distance between the reflection wall and the shooting device when it impacts the reflection wall.
 13. A system according to claim 1, wherein external shape of the at least one target is a portion of a cylinder.
 14. A method for shooting arrows at a target for an archer, comprising a step of shooting an arrow in the direction of the target, wherein it comprises the following steps: placing a reflection wall in a shooting area around the target; forming a head portion on the arrow; when the arrow does not impact the target, at least partially absorbing the energy of the impact, returning the arrow towards the archer by bouncing of the head portion on the reflection wall.
 15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the arrow is returned at a distance of between 50% and 85% of the distance between the reflection wall and the archer,
 16. A method according to claim 14, wherein the target is launched prior to the shooting step so as to make it move in front of the reflection wall relative to the archer during the shooting step.
 17. A method according to claim 16, wherein the target is launched at a height greater than 2 metres and less than the height of the reflection wall. 